Rogue employers......

maidenireland

Hi all,

I was in a good job for 6 months (I was outside my probation) and got sick for a week (pretty bad but fine now) which I had a doctors note to cover me. My position was terminated with no explanation and I didn't have any run ins within the six months with the bosses with whom i thought I had a good relationship with so as you can imagine I was I bit pi**ed off to say the least.
I'm now in a situation where I can't get a reference from them and while I know they are obliged not to give one - it is also illegal to stop a person from making a living.
There is no doubt that I was a victim of the recession, but the idiots couldn't have afforded to keep me in that position why offer it in the first place - I was perfectly happy in my last job!

Any ideas how these rogue employers should be treated?
If you have a similar story let me know.

Cheers

AARRRGH

maidenireland wrote: »

it is also illegal to stop a person from making a living.

I'm not sure how they're stopping you from making a living.

Did they really give you _no explanation_ as to why you are losing your job? I find that hard to believe. They handed you your notice - out of the blue - and stood there silently until you left the office?

No offence, but practically everyone who posts on boards about losing their job says they're totally innocent... in my experience, as both an employee and employer, that is never the case.

Anyway. Sorry to hear you're unemployed. The best thing to do is to try to move on and to apply for as many jobs as possible. Make sure your CV is perfect and you tailer every cover letter for each position.

Overature

i could give you a few ideas but Board admins would be angry and block me

thetyreman

AARRRGH wrote: »

I'm not sure how they're stopping you from making a living.

Did they really give you _no explanation_ as to why you are losing your job? I find that hard to believe. They handed you your notice - out of the blue - and stood there silently until you left the office?

No offence, but practically everyone who posts on boards about losing their job says they're totally innocent... in my experience, as both an employee and employer, that is never the case.

Anyway. Sorry to hear you're unemployed. The best thing to do is to try to move on and to apply for as many jobs as possible. Make sure your CV is perfect and you tailer every cover letter for each position.

maidenireland

To Mr AARRRGH,

I secured 2 positions and both turned me down because I couldn't get a reference from my last employer which was thier policy. As I have said I wasn't in work - I was out sick and got my termination letter in the post and 2 weeks before this I was told how well I was doing, no time keeping issues,no sickness (up till then), none of the obvious.

I have been working for the last 22 years and to think that your future can be based on getting a reference from an employer that you only worked for - for the last 6 months is ridiculous especially when I offered an array of referees that were more than happy to oblige.
6 months is not the measure of a man with those years behind him, I don't care what anyone says.

Unfortunately, it is an employers market at the moment and I was asked to join this company I didn't seek it but was sold a good story but it was my decision to move so the buck stops with me, I was told the guy was a headcase but wouldn't listen (money is a good motivator).

As regards stopping me making a living I think I've explained that in the first paragragh, the particular trade I'm in is all I know and am now finding it hard to get back into it (recesion doesn't help) but it's interesting to know that you are an employer surprise surprise.

Overature sounds like they know what needs to be done.

No offence intented to anyone but it's a very trapped feeling, it's horrible.

Cheers

AARRRGH

OK, well your employer obviously had their reasons for getting rid of you.

I think you are putting too much blame on a single reference destroying your chance of finding work. I think the problem, more likely, is how awful the jobs market is at the moment. Your previous employer does not have to give a reference so they are not whatsoever stopping you from earning a living.

Your previous job was only for 6 months, so why don't you remove it altogether from your CV? You could claim you were travelling, or looking after a sick relative, or something like that. As the new tax year has just begun, you won't have to give them a P45 (I'm assuming you haven't worked this month at all, but even if you have, you can arrange your tax credits for your new employer without having to show them your P45.)

Being unemployed sucks, but I think you should stop blaming your ex-employer for your inability to find a job now. It's just pointless anger and won't get you anywhere.

Best of luck.

maidenireland

You know what?..you're right, it's just that employers look for gaps in cv's and want you to explain what you were doing etc etc for such a big gap of time.

How can I put too much blame on a reference when everyone is looking for one????

I suppose I'm just a bit old fasioned and am not used to being shafted. Fact is if there was a reason they would have told me - they are bosses after all and have no scruples, they hadn't got the stones that's all to say recession, I mean explain how you can tell someone one day everything was great and 2 weeks later you're gone, I mean due process must be taken, verbal warnings, written warnings, suspensions and then dismissal that's the law and these small employers are not above it and it's about time they were told this - the majority of them don't even know who IBEC are. I still can't tell anyone why I lost my job!!!!! no reason - it's ridiculous, Im entitled to a reason but I won't get one because there isn't one.

I've been a boss in many jobs and was a good listener and mentor to people under me and got the best out of some difficult young lads and gained huge respect for it.
I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself I suppose but thanks for the encouragement.

Big man wins again.

the_syco

maidenireland wrote: »

Fact is if there was a reason they would have told me - they are bosses after all

Even though you could be legally laid off within a one year period, some employers don't know this, and it seems they got rid of you hoping you wouldn't sue them (which, as you were working there less than a year, I doubt you can do).

To be fair, after the way they got rid of you, I'm surprised that you'd use them as a reference. I'd never use one particular employer again as a reference, as I'd be sure he would say something bad, which would ensure I didn't get the job that I was going for.

As you won't tell us the sector, I'm guessing finance. Maybe take a "pay cut" to see if you could get a job?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Just to set you straight, you worked there for 6 months, you have little to no rights what so ever. It's very unfortunate for you. I suggest getting on the dole ASAP. Look for a new job, forget about this one as you are just chassing your tail.

To go to court and sue for unfair dismissal would be nuts. I think you could do something about a wrongful dismissal.

About not giving you a reason, on moral grounds I believe they should, on legal grounds I do not know if they are obliged. It has been quite some times since I studied employment law. Forget most of it.

Seek legal advice. Write your ex employer a letter and plead with them for an excuse, let them know that it will make it easier for future employers to know of the reason.

It sounds like your ex employer has terminated your employment due to the recession. I am sure they have sought some legal advice before they got rid of you.

Well, welcome to the club. I just hope you are not here for as long as some of us.

jackbauer

had sort of similar thing happen to me. was offered a job (better pay and conditions to the one i currently held). Handed in 2 weeks notice to current employer. Due to finish on a friday. Thursday afternoon get a call "sorry but due to the global economic crisis we can't offer you a job anymore". Went straight to boss and explained. He said not to worry. Let go on the friday.

Got all sorts of advice from various sources as I had a contract with the new guys etc but the reality is i hadn't a leg to stand on as they just blame the recession while taking delivery of this years new model merc. Best advice i can give is put it in the rear view and move on.

maidenireland

Well that sounds worse than mine okay, but these people just mess with our lives. You know after what happened to me I swallowed my pride and went back to my old employer (Not the 6 month a**hole) and he offered me my old job back and I was delighted as this happened just before xmas.
So now the wife and kids are thrilled and I was to start in the middle of Jan but when I called him for a start date he renaiged on the deal and the worse thing was that I turned down 2 other positions during the period I was safe.

Keep the faith we'll get through.

the_syco

maidenireland wrote: »

thrilled and I was to start in the middle of Jan but when I called him for a start date he renaiged on the deal and the worse thing was that I turned down 2 other positions during the period I was safe.

Aye. I've learnt it the hard way that until you sign the contract, the agents word ain't worth sh|t. And in these times, the contract is sometimes not worth the paper it's written on due to the recession :mad:

Whiskey Devil

Sounds like you're being offered a lot of jobs. Shouldn't be long..